Red Bank is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 11,899 at the 2020 census. Red Bank is an enclave, being entirely surrounded by the city limits of Chattanooga. Red Bank is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area.
thumb|The new city hall in Red Bank was opened in 2019
History
Red Bank was originally known as "Pleasant Hill". When a post office was established in the community in 1881, but it was asked to adopt a new name, since the name "Pleasant Hill" was already taken. The name "Red Bank" was chosen by the wife of the first postmaster, George Hartman. It was inspired by the red clay ridge that was visible from a window in her house. In 1955, the communities of Red Bank and White Oak incorporated as a single town called "Red Bank-White Oak". In 1966, the city voted to drop the "White Oak" for simplification purposes. The city lies at the base of the Cumberland Plateau in southwestern Hamilton County. It is bordered on all sides by the city of Chattanooga and is north of Chattanooga's downtown. Dayton Boulevard is the city's main thoroughfare, though U.S. Route 27 runs along the city's western edge.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Bank has a total area of , all land. The city center follows the valley of Stringers Branch, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Tennessee River.
thumb|Looking North from White Oak Park
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Red Bank had a population of 11,899; the median age was 35.3 years. About 16.2% of residents were under 18, and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
Of the 5,786 households in Red Bank, 21.6% had children under 18 living in them, 33.5% were married-couple households, 24.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 9,660 || 81.2%
|-
| Black or African American || 799 || 6.7%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 43 || 0.4%
|-
| Asian || 140 || 1.2%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander || 7 || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 451 || 3.8%
|-
| Two or more races || 799 || 6.7%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 921 || 7.7%
|}
2000 census
As of the census Public comments for both items on and off the agenda are welcome.
As of 2025, the Red Bank Planning Commission includes Ben Richards, Sonja Millard – vice chair, Robin Parker, Kate Skonberg – secretary, and Brenna Kelly. Public planning commission meeting-agenda work sessions are held the third Tuesday of every month at 12 pm, followed by the planning commission meeting on the third Thursday of every month at 6 pm.
Additional citizen boards, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Board of Floodplain Review, may assist in the zoning processes.
The City has also initiated the use of citizens' advisory boards to allow for public input into issues impacting the community. Current boards include: Cemetery Citizens' Advisory Board, Festival Citizens' Advisory Board, Public Art Citizens' Advisory Board, Urban Transportation Citizens' Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Citizens' Advisory Board, Nonprofit Citizens' Advisory Board, and Transportation Safety Committee.
The Red Bank Commission and the city manager hold an annual strategic planning retreat to set goals for the year.
Mayors of Red Bank
- 1955–1959 Burk S. "Tom" Millard
- 1959–1963 J.E. Brown
- 1963–1965 R. Hayden Landers
- 1965–1971 Joe H. Godsey
- 1971–1973 Joe Glasscock
- 1973–1975 Tom H. Collins
- 1976–1977 Ralph Barger
- 1979–1981 Ralph Barger
- 1981–1985 Thomas R. Dodd
- 1983–1985 Ralph Barger
- 1985–1987 John Ramey
- 1987–1989 Ralph Barger
- 1989–1991 Ronnie E. Moore
- 1991–1993 Lester Barnette
- 1993–1995 Ernest E. Lewis
- 1995–1997 Ralph Barger
- 1997–1999 Pat Brown
- 1999–2003 Howard Daniel Cotter
- 1999–2007 Ronnie E. Moore
- 2007–2010 Joe Glasscock
- 2010–2012 Monty Millard
- 2012–2018 John Roberts
- 2018–2020 Eddie Pierce
- 2020 Ruth Jeno
- 2020–2024 Hollie Berry
- 2024 – Present: Stefanie Dalton
Politics
{| border = "2"
|+ Red Bank city vote<br /> by party in presidential elections
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! Democratic
! Republican
! Third parties
|-
|align="center" |2020
|align="center" |49.85% 2,918
|align="center" |46.75% 2,736
|align="center" |3.40% 199
|-
|align="center" |2016
|align="center" |36.98% 1,690
|align="center" |54.18% 2,476
|align="center" |8.84% 404
|-
|align="center" |2012
|align="center" |39.04% 1,036
|align="center" |56.86% 1,509
|align="center" |4.10% 109
|-
|align="center" |2008
|align="center" |39.40% 1,111
|align="center" |58.48% 1,649
|align="center" |2.12% 60
|-
|}
Natural features
- Stringer's Branch, a stream running from north to south in Red Bank, is a tributary of the Tennessee River and captures drainage from Stringer's Ridge on the east and Godsey Ridge on the west. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) had placed a "contact advisory" due to high levels of water contamination, including E. coli. The City of Red Bank has been actively working to clean up Stringer's Branch and TDEC monitoring does indicate improvement.
- Stringer's Ridge, shared by Red Bank and the City of Chattanooga, is a 92-acre urban wilderness park. Citizen efforts stopped a condominium development on the ridge. With assistance of the Tennessee Trust for Public Land, 7 miles of multiple-use trails are available for both bikers and pedestrians.*Red Bank was home to the Tennessee State Champion Virginia Pine discovered by Don McKenzie (the tree died in 2023).
- Red Bank was home to the Tennessee State Champion Virginia Pine discovered by Don McKenzie (the tree died in 2023).
Red Bank is designated as a "Bird Sanctuary City" by the Red Bank Commission.
Notable people
- Bill Dedman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, was raised in Red Bank.
- Wendell Rawls, Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, was raised in Red Bank.
- Kane Brown, singer
- Emma Bell Miles was a writer, poet, and artist. Her works capture the essence of the natural world and the culture of southern Appalachia.
- Tim Benford, former NFL wide receiver
- Keionta Davis, NFL defensive end
- Dorothy Montgomery, former professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
- Ronald L. Schlicher, diplomat and foreign service officer
Cemeteries
The two cemeteries in Red Bank are the responsibility of the City of Red Bank.
- The Red Bank Cemetery is located off Morrison Springs Road; it is also known as the James Cemetery. The Red Bank Cemetery Advisory Board has spearheaded an extensive effort to restore the property.
- The other is a paupers' cemetery now referred to as the Field. This burial site was for those who could not afford a proper burial and for deceased prisoners and others. Research is under way that could shape its future. It is located on the White Oak Connector Trail, but is very overgrown.
Memorial Park Cemetery in Red Bank is the final resting place for several notable individuals, particularly those who contributed to the local community and region. It is privately owned and operated. It is still sometimes called White Oak Cemetery, although many simply call it "the duck pond". Among those interned at this cemetery is Emma Bell Miles.
thumb|Two women at the cemetery entrance to White Oak Cemetery, circa 1895
References
External links
- City of Red Bank official website
- City of Red Bank official Facebook page
- "The City of Red Bank" – city history